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MY BEACH SOCCER 
Unpredictable day sees shutout and shootout, with Les Bleus securing decider against Greece in the Promotional final tomorrow
France earns another 3 points
With a chance to play Greece in the Promotion final championship match on Sunday, France and Israel put on a spectacular show. France had just enough energy and skill to hold off a never-say-never Israel team 7-5. Israel was down the entire match but continually tied the game though the extra expenditure of energy was too much for them to conquer.
The first period saw more attacking from the French than from Israel but Israel knew they had a solid enough defense to not worry, at least early. The young French team did display their own defensive qualities to stop the Israeli push. Late in the period, France scored the first goal of the match on a deep rocket to go up 1-0. Showing why both teams are in the same position, one win away from a finals berth, Israel scored a minute later to tie the game at 1. In 15 seconds another two goals were scored, making the game 2-2. France was not satisfied with staying tied with Israel and scored again to go up 3-2. Israel continued to fight back and few seconds were what they needed to regroup and tie the match again at 3, and that is how they would head into the first break.
The second period began with end-to-end action and both teams were sacrificing their bodies in blocking almost all of each team?s powerful shots. France was the first to break the stalemate, just after the halfway point of the period to go up 4-3. The majority of the period was back and forth offense and defense but the lone goal by France was all the scoring: Both teams were making sure things were close heading into the final and most important third period. The score heading to the final break was 4-3, France.
The last period was filled with superb shot from Israel, looking to tie the game for the fourth time and early in the period, 2 minutes in, they did on a great strike from Danin, his second of the match. As France did the previous 4 times, they bounced back after an Israeli goal, to score one of their own making score 5-4. Unlike earlier in the match, France scored again before Israel could tie the game and with 6 minutes remaining, France had put themselves up by 2 goals, 6-4. The fight that Israel displayed in the third period was phenomenal as they were down by two late in the game and scored again to get within one goal at 6-5, with only four minutes remaining. France did not want a letdown and made sure of it by scoring another goal keeping them ahead for good.
The 7-5 win and three points means that France won Group A in Division B and will play Greece on Sunday for the Promotion final title and the winner will play next season in Division A. Israel takes 2nd place in Group A of Division B and will play Hungary on Sunday in the 3rd place match for Division B.
Goals: 1-0: Boucenna, min. 3 (1); 1-1: Danin, min. 2 (1); 2-1: Samoun, min. 2 (1); 2-2: Iloz, min. 2 (1); 3-2: Pagis, min. 1 (1); 3-3: Badash, min. 1 (1); 4-3: Ben Boina, min. 5 (2); 4-4: Danin, min. 10 (3); 5-4: Pagis, min. 7 (3); 6-5: Ilov, min. 4 (3); 7-5: Pagis, min. 3 (3).
England salvages three points
Greece already had their spot in the Promotion final set and their opponent was no longer in doubt but after two slim losses in the opening days of the tournament, England was there to prove they could win. The 5-0 win for England gives them bragging rights over the Group B champion and potential 2014 Division A participant, Greece. Greece did not make many mistakes but were outplayed by England throughout.
The English wanted a fast start to catch the Group B Division B champions off guard. Early in the period English did just that, scoring in the first minute, which easier said than done, and then by limiting the Greeks shots on their own goal. A one goal lead in Beach Soccer is never safe and England wanted to add to their lead but late into the period the defenses had their grip on the offense and no other goals were scored in the period. Each side did not disappoint the fans as the shots on goal were fantastic and often. The period ended with England up 1-0 and looking like the hungrier team.
The second period, similar to the first, showed an English team that looked as though they were headed to the Promotion final as England scored again early to go up 2-0. The Greeks could not crack the Three Lions´ defense and were getting a taste of their own medicine, great defense and an opportunistic offense. England utilized great goalkeeping and focused attacks to maintain their lead but as with all great Beach Soccer teams, the ability to score at any moment is always on the horizon and England wanted to make sure they didn?t leave the window open for a Greece comeback. Near the end of the period England was given a penalty kick and Blake did not miss, adding to the English lead, making the score 3-0, which is how the period would end.
When things are going your way, everything goes your way and the third period saw England get all the bounces. Greece missed early shots by inches and their ball took unlucky turns for them. England used their tough defense to stymie the Greeks goal scoring ability and set up their own attacks. Early in the period the dominant England trend continued and they barely missed shots of their own as well. In the middle of the third period Greek attempted to start their inevitable comeback when they were awarded a potentially very dangerous direct kick on England´s side of the pitch, but Webb, made the save, keeping the score the same. Temple of England then took a poorly timed pass from Greece and capitalized on the turnover to score the first goal of the final period and put his side up 4-0. The Three Lions would add another late goal for good measure to end the game with a shutout.
The dominant 5-0 win by England shows how their Promotion final record does not reflect their actual talent and it earns them a spot in the 7th place match for Division B against Estonia on Sunday. Despite the loss, Greece will still be playing in the championship match in the Promotion final on Sunday against France. The winner of that match will be playing in the EBSL Division A next season.
Goals: 0-1: Day, min. 11 (1); 0-2: Clarke, min. 8 (2); 0-3: Blake, min. 3 (2)0-4: Temple, min. 5 (3); 5-0: Clarke, min. 1 (3).
Hungary takes second in Group with win
The Czech Republic and Hungary both accumulated three points in the first days of the tournament but a win would only put them in a tie for first place in the group but both teams lost to Greece, thus losing the tiebreaker. The three points in the 5-2 win over Czech Republic gives Hungary second place in Division B Group B. The Czech Republic, despite their opening win, takes 3rd in the group.
Play in the opening period was fast, exciting, and unpredictable, which is a staple of Beach Soccer. Exquisite aerial passing was used by the Czechs to set up both of their goals in the first period. Hungary had their shots on goal but none were extremely dangerous. The Czechs scored their second goal with under a minute left in the first period to leave Hungary in a two goal hole, 2-0, heading into the first break.
During the intermission, to understand Hungarian would be to understand anger as the coach gave an intense speech to his team that worked like a charm. The Hungarian team started the period playing inspired Beach Soccer, scoring two goals in the opening minutes, limiting Czech Republic´s chances, and placing quality shots on goal. Hungary tied the match up early and both sides took turns exchanging possession and shots on goal late into the period with the score still tied at 2. The chances increased as the period continued but neither team was able to break the tie and the period ended 2-2.
As if a sign to indicate how exciting the final period would be, Hungary struck a stunning volley that narrowly missed in the opening seconds. It only took a few more seconds for Hungary to break the tie and they went ahead 3-2 in the opening minute of the third. Neither side was able to keep up the hurried pace from the first two periods, although opportunities to score were still plentiful. Hungary took advantage of a slim crease in the Czech defense and added an insurance goal in the middle of the period, making the score 2-4, Hungary. Hungary added one more just to be safe and ended the game well beating a very tough Czech Republic side.
The 2-5 win for Hungary means that they will play in the 3rd place match on Sunday, against the 2nd place finisher in Group A of Division B. The Czech Republic can still earn a 5th place trophy if they win their match against the 3rd place finisher in Group A in Division B.
Goals: 1-0: Kubice, min. 2 (1); 2-0: Dlouhy, min. 1 (1); 2-1: Fekete, min. 10 (2); 2-2: Simonyi, min. 9 (2); 2-3: Weisz, min. 11 (3); 2-4: Berkes, min. 5 (3); 2-5: Simonyi, min. 1 (3).
Turkey earns first points in penalties
Looking to avoid last place in Group A of Division B, Estonia and Turkey fought to earn the right to play the Czech Republic in the 5th place Division B match on Sunday. Turkey went up early, went down big, stormed back and eventually won a glorious match in penalties against Estonia 6-6(12-11). There is always a winner in Beach Soccer and the penalties showed that Estonia also played well enough to win but they were unable to overcome the Turkish resiliency in the 24 shot shootout.
Two goals in 5 seconds. Beach Soccer at its finest is how the match began and the excitement only continued to grow as the desire to earn their first points of the tournament increased as well. You would think that no team, let alone two, could sustain the pace that was seen in the first period but with less than five minutes gone in the period five goals had been scored and both teams were comfortable with the fast tempo and not looking to slow down. The scary thing for future opponents is that there were even more chances to score that did not come to fruition. The period ended with a score of 3-2, Estonia.
Estonia was on their heels in the early going of the period as Turkey was attacking and putting shots of the posts but it only took one counter for Estonia to counter and add to their lead. Only two minutes into the period Estonia had their biggest lead of the game, 2 goals, with a score of 4-2. In the middle of the period after another goal by Estonia, Turkey was awarded a penalty kick off an Estonian red card and Adil of Turkey took the kick which was blocked but Baris got to the rebound first and put it in, giving him a hat trick on the day and putting his team in a good position to win late, only down 2, 5-3. Baris was not finished yet; he added another goal, almost immediately after his third, to make the score 4-5, Estonia. The Estonians could sense the momentum changing and added a goal on a penalty kick to make the score 6-4 late in the period. With only seconds left in the period, Turkey put another shot past the Estonian keeper to pull within one goal, 5-6.
The feverish pace of the first period became accelerated in the second and laid the groundwork for a fantastic final period. The goals were scarcer in the third but Turkey managed to stage an amazing comeback, tying the game at 6 midway throught the final period. Estonia was limited to a handful of good chances in the period and going into the final minutes, they had not capitalized. No other goals were scored and the game went into overtime tied 6-6. Both sides saw their opportunities to score thwarted in overtime and the game went to penalties, the most exciting finale to any sporting event. Both teams exchanged penalties, 3 each, until the Turkish goalie blocked Saharovs´shot but a redo was issued because the keeper moved early. Saharov did not miss his second chance. Neither side wanted to lose and if the first three periods and overtime were not evidence enough, the penalties were just as amazing going 24 shots long, ending with Turkey controlling their nerves and hitting the last penalty after their keeper blocked the last Estonian attempt, the only block of the shootout.
The 6-6(12:11) win was the first of the tournament for Turkey and means they take third place in Group A of Division B and will face the Czech Republic on Sunday in the 5th place match. Estonia will play on Sunday as well in the Division B 7th place match against England, with both teams looking to end their tournament better than it started.
Goals: 1-0: Baris, min. 11 (1); 1-1: Saharov, min. 11 (1); 2-1: Baris, min. 9 (1); 2-2: Truusalu, min. 8 (1); 2-3: Truusalu, min. 7 (1); 2-4: Aniko, min. 10 (2); 2-5: Saharov, min. 4 (2); 3-5: Baris, min. 4 (2); 4-5: Baris, min. 2 (2); 4-6: Arst, min. 1 (2); 5-6: Adil, min. 1 (2); 6-6: Cem, min. 6 (3).
Penalties: 0-1: Truussalu; 1-1: Erkan; 1-2: Rump; 2-2: Onur; 2-3: Arst; 3-3: Cem; 3-4: Saharvov; 4-4: Volkan; 4-5: Aniko; 5-5: Adil; 5-6: Rand; 6-6: Erkan; 6-7: Maeorg; 7-7: Baris; 7-8: Tammo; 8-8: Yucel; 8-9: Mironov; 9-9: Ahmet; 9-10: Truusalu; 10-10: Erkan; 10-11: Rump; 11-11: Onur; 11-11: Arst, blocked; 12-11: Cem.
EURO BEACH SOCCER LEAGUE PROMOTION FINAL TORREDEMBARRA 2013
Match Results:
Saturday, 10th of August, 2013
Czech Republic 2-5 Hungary
Turkey 6-6(12:11) Estonia
France 7-5 Israel
Greece 0-5 England
Upcoming Matches:
Sunday, 11th of August, 2013
10:15 ? Estonia vs England (Match for the 7th place)
11:30 ? Turkey vs Czech Republic (Match for the 5th place)
15:15 ? Israel vs Hungary (Match for the 3rd place)
16:30 ? France vs Greece (Promotion Final)
